Jammu & Kashmir law minister asks separatists to join dialogue process

A Jammu and Kashmir minister today appealed to the separatist leaders including chairman of hardline faction of hurriyat conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani to join the dialogue process to help restore peace in the state.

"Numerous graveyards have come up across J&K over the past 20 years and the people don't want to see more of these now. I urge Syed Ali Shah Geelani and all other separatist leaders to be part of the dialogue process to help restore peace in the state," Law and rural development minister AM Sagar said.

"It is time to heal the wounds the people have suffered over the years," Sagar said yesterday, addressing a public gathering after inaugurating a model village at Kilam in Kulgam district of south Kashmir, 80 kms from here.

Referring to the shelved visit of moderate hurriyat conference headed by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq to Pakistan, he said the separatist leaders should join the dialogue process instead of embarking on Pakistan visit. "No purpose will be served by raising emotive slogans," he said.

On long pending panchayat elections in the state, Sagar said the government will hold pancyayat polls early to ensure decentralization of power at grass root level.